The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-04-19
PRESENTED AT COURT.
The Scenes and Ceremonies De-
scribed by a Novice.


AT all ordinary pazsies 1t Is fashionable to
come in late; when royalsS entertains, 1t Is
the correct thing to arrive befnss you are in
vited, and the longer you are In wAaiting the
greater is presumed to be your loyalty.
writes bright English lady who roeosptly
had the honor to be present at Court. Whskn
the Queen announces her reception at
O'Clock, you ought to be already In your car
riage at 1.30, sitting outside the palace until
the royal door Is opened. As an eager crowd
OF sightseers throng all approaches, II Is a
little trying to sit an hour or so with line
of noses pressed against the carriage win
dows, while an eyer-falling shower Of crit
ieisms on 'er dress" assalls the ear. When
further remarks about 'er cad are added.
one feels the criticisms are more personal
than pleasant.
Our moment of triumph comes, however,
at last, when the barriers are withdrawn and
the carriages dash through the archway, fol-
lowed by eager eyes that would faln pene-
trate the unknown wonders hidden behind
that duh. imrassiye front Of palace wall.
As the carriage vanishes from public view
1t enters on inner court. formal and cheer
less. save for the bright coats Of troop Of
Household Cavalry on guard. As we drove
under the portieo the royal Beefeaters stand
ready to open the huge doors, and few po-
lcemen make themselves useful The low
rooted hall we enter is supported by pillar
ed arches, but 1t has a gloomy, eellar-like
feeling in spite Of Its rich decoration. Along
one side runs the cloak-room, where num-
Der Of elderly and not very smart maids are
ready to take our wraps and fold up our nine
feet Of trains into q manageable bundle 70 be
carried about until required. From the hall
we ascend long, straight staircase to the
corridor above. where officials stand in gold
embroidered raiment and require our pass
port to the realms Of social bliss.
gave card six inches square, on which
my name Is writ large, and 1t Is received
along the gallery through the ballroom, with
its scarlet and gold, all deserted, and then
into the first state drawing-room, which looks
out with a row OF stately windows into the
palace gardens. Here stand about one hun
| dred women, dressed In court attire, and
| fresh arrivals swell the number every minute.
/ Between this apartment and the one in
| which the Queen receives are four state
rooms, filed with other ladies waiting TO APP
/ pr0aeh her Majesty. New c0mers have con-
/ sequently plenty Of time before them, and
/ they compose themselves to admire and crit
/ icise the brilliant crowd.
1 Ihe nrSt Impression OF u DtNy OF women IN
court costume Is one Of great elegance. The
uniformity Of the dressing Of the hair, with
ostrich plumes and wells, gives special char
acter to the scene. Young girls presented
for the first time look out with wondering
eyes from their masses Of white tuiie and
feathers. noticed three sweet faces, all
following one majestic mother and loading
the air with the fragrance OF three huge
bouquets Of lilies. One parsonage has gown
and train Of blue satin, covered with a bold
ahrnfl lQrxf of uol NVh haa afra
ed away from Japanese screens.
The usual hour Of waiting passed pleasantly
The sun shone through the tall windows.
lighting up the golden heads and flashing
jewels of the crowd while blazing fires
eheered us as doors were thrown open by the
gentlemen-at-arms, and we passed from
room TO room. These singular beings, with
their brass helmets Of fre-brigade pattern
and TALL white plumes, seem relic Of Re-
gency days, and would be more in harmony
with the boon companions Of the Baronet OF
RuddygOre than with the Beefeaters In their
soft Tudor dress. Toward a o'clock we
gained the room next the Queens presence
Now, my dear, collect your mind and
| hold your fan properly" heard q mother
| whisper to her daughter, who was eOnfessing
| TO another debutante that she felt lawfully
| frightened" Still she bore up. From this
/ room we march out one by one with train
| stretched far behind us into the royal pres
/ ence. The moment Is not pleasant; there
seems so much millinery and so little indi-
viduality. Trails and plumes have Il all their
own way, and the woman Is overlooked AS
one enters the throne room the Queen stands
| out conspicuous in her diamond crown, the
| broad blue ribbon Of the Garter crossing her
breast. The clear voice OF the Lord Cham
berlin calls out ones name, and at that in
| slant the first courtesy should be made. The
| Queen returns each salutatiOn kindly, though
she looks tired. BY her side stands the
| Princess Of Wales, in grey satin, with a
great diamond star over her brow. Sh g
bows somewhat stiffly, as II she kaew. her
| duty and was prepared to do 1t. Princess
| Christana claims the next courtesy, and ac-
| knOwledges 1t with scant attention. Then
the Duchess Of Albany, in black, excltes pc
culiar interest, as she returns sweetly our
reverence. Below her stand the two young
daughters Of the Princess Of Wales, whisper
| ing gaily to one another, yet attentive 10 ae-
knowledge salutations, while their father
watches over them, and, CHEEKY as ever,
| waves the last adieu TO the disappearing
train. This was the merry end Of the royal
| line.
The ordeal is over. Gathering up our
robes, we have a pleasant chat with friends
| In the picture gallery, where so many OF the
/ masterpieces OF Dutch art waste themselves
ON indifterent beholders. People look more
graceful now. they are quite at ease, and the
| presence OF the diplomatic light brigade
adds fresh color and picturesque costumes TO
the scene. The Greek Minister wears a
snort pettlcoat Of blue velvet, which stands
out like penwiper over long gaiters Oh wo-
ven gold. Such dress must cost fortune
The Bishop Of st. Albans Is deity steering
about, fearful Of his snowy sleeves and ehae-
ting gaily TO his acquaintances. one glIis
dress that pleased me fell straight from the
shoulder almost without a fold, ana was
painted with long lines OF roses ualii'
graceful woman In a brocade Of PINK ana sii-
yer thread was talking TO lovely Sltl n
white tulle, covered with rain Of nst,e l- sof
den circles. The wearers and the dresses
were alike bewitching.
/
Sir Thomas Martineau, Mayor Of Birming-
ham, England, who was knighted by the
Queen during her recent visit there, Is a